Q&A

AUDITIONS/REGISTRATION

8th Grade Music Ensemble Placement Day

On January 13, 2018 the RHS Music Department will hold placement meetings at Reservoir for all performing ensembles. Incoming instrumental and vocal students should register for a time slot on SignUpGenius: RHS Music Placement Sign UpsInstrumental students will be given excerpts to play and may be asked to play scales. Vocal placements will consist of singing scales to determine range and vocal technique. Students may be asked to sing a song they already know.​Based on placement meetings, the directors will recommend students to register for the appropriate ensemble.

Jazz Band

Jazz Band auditions will take place in the fall. E-mail Mr. Bacon if you are interested in auditioning for this ensemble.

Orchestra

All string players should sign up for a placement day meeting. Wind and brass players interested in playing in the extra-curricular full orchestra should e-mail Mr. O'Bryan.

Chamber Choir

Students interested in auditioning for Chamber Choir should see their middle school director to obtain the audition music and sign up for a time on the placement day. The audition will consist of singing the prepared piece, scales, tonal memory exercises, and sight-singing.

Men's and Women's Choirs

Men's and Women's Choirs are non-auditioned ensembles. Sign-ups for these ensembles will take place in early September outside the choir room.

PERFORMING ENSEMBLES

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES

Symphonic Band/Marching Band

​Symphonic Band is the top auditioned band at RHS. All Symphonic Band members are required to participate in Marching Band. Symphonic Band plays a wide variety upper level repertoire and performs throughout the year at all school concerts and county assessments.

Concert Band

​Concert Band is an auditioned wind ensemble that performs a wide variety of intermediate level repertoire with a focus on building individual and ensemble performance skills. Concert Band performs at all school concerts and county assessments.

Percussion Ensemble

​Percussion Ensemble is a class that explores a variety of percussion ensemble literature and/or band music while building a foundation of performance technique. Students perform throughout the year at all school concerts.

Orchestra

​The Orchestra class is open to anyone who plays a string instrument. The RHS Orchestra performs a wide variety of literature at all school concerts and county assessments. In addition to class rehearsals, students are expected to attend weekly after school rehearsals.

Jazz Band

​Jazz Band is an audition-only group offered as an extracurricular activity. This group consists of a rhythm section (percussion, piano, bass, guitar), trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. Jazz Band practices at least once a week in the evening beginning in November and performs at the Winter, Pops, and Spring concerts.

CHORAL ENSEMBLES

Chamber Choir

​Chamber Choir is the top auditioned vocal ensemble at RHS. Chamber Choir performs a wide variety of upper level repertoire at all school concerts, county assessments, and many school and community events throughout the year. Chamber Choir singers also perform as part of Concert Choir and must attend scheduled after school rehearsals for both ensembles.

Concert Choir

​Concert Choir is a large mixed-voice vocal ensemble that performs music representing a variety of styles and historical periods, from classical to pop. Concert Choir performs at all school concerts and county assessments. Students are also expected to attend weekly after school rehearsals. Students must sign up for a voice placement meeting in order to sign up for Concert Choir.

Chorus

Chorus is a vocal ensemble that focuses on technique and music reading skills. Chorus joins Concert Choir for several of the music program performances, and therefore students are expected to attend after school rehearsals. This is a non-auditioned group, but students must sign up for a voice placement meeting.

Men's and Women's Choirs

​Men’s and Women’s Choirs are non-auditioned vocal ensembles which typically rehearse once a week after school and perform at all school concerts. Sign-ups for these ensembles take place at the beginning of the year.

OTHER MUSIC ELECTIVES

Music Technology I

Students learn basic compositional and audio editing techniques and apply them using notation, sequencing, and recording software programs such as GarageBand, ProTools, Audacity, and Sibelius. Students will create original songs, advertisements, podcasts, and video projects.It is recommended, but not required, that students wishing to take Music Tech have previous experience playing an instrument and reading music. Guitar, Piano, Music Theory, or any performing ensemble would be appropriate classes to take before Music Tech.

Music Technology II

​Students learn advanced compositional techniques and apply them using professional level notation and sequencing software programs. Emphasis is on more complex manipulation and editing of audio and video.​Completion of Music Technology I or teacher approval is required.

​Students develop intermediate guitar techniques through performing solo and ensemble guitar literature from difficulty levels III and IV (on a scale of VI). Skills emphasized include (1) identifying and analyzing musical elements and structural characteristics of various styles and genres and (2) utilizing current technology to assist in further development of improvisational and compositional techniques. After-school activities, such as recitals and performances, may be required, and grades may reflect such participation. The number of required non-school hour performances and practices during a school year may not exceed 5.

Prerequisite: Completion of Guitar I or teacher permission

Guitar III/IV-Honors

​Students develop advanced guitar techniques through performing solo and ensemble guitar literature from difficulty levels V and VI (on a scale of VI). Skills emphasized include (1) performing with alternate tunings and more sophisticated chord progressions and (2) developing advanced improvisational and compositional techniques. After-school activities, such as recitals and performances, may be required, and grades may reflect such participation. The number of required non-school year may not exceed 10.

Prerequisite: Completion of previous level(s) or teacher permission

Piano I

​Students develop basic piano techniques through performing a variety of piano literature representing various styles and genres from difficulty levels I and II (on a scale of VI). Skills emphasized include (1) performing with independent parts for right and left hands, (2) note reading using traditional notation, and (3) utilizing current technology to assist in developing basic improvisational and compositional techniques.

Previous piano experience is not required.

Piano II

​Students develop intermediate piano techniques through performing a variety of piano literature representing various styles and genres from difficulty levels III and IV (on a scale of VI). Skills emphasized include (1) identifying and analyzing musical elements and structural characteristics of various styles and genres and (2) utilizing current technology to assist in further development of improvisational and compositional techniques. After-school activities, such as recitals and performances, may be required, and grades may reflect such participation. The number of required non-school hour performances and practices during a school year may not exceed 5.

Prerequisite: Piano I or teacher permission

Piano III/IV-Honors

​Students develop advanced piano techniques through performing a variety of piano literature representing various styles and genres from difficulty levels V and VI (on a scale of VI). Skills emphasized include (1) performing scales and arpeggios in all keys and (2) developing advanced improvisational and compositional techniques. After-school activities, such as recitals and performances, may be required and grades may reflect such participation. The number of required non-school hour performances and practices during a school year may not exceed 10.

Prerequisite: Completion of previous level(s) or teacher permission

Music Theory I

​Students learn the basic elements of music and their applications in elementary composition. Aural development is stressed throughout the year through rhythmic and melodic dictation and sight-singing. Music technology will be used as a resource to develop aural and compositional skills.

A student with limited experiences in music must seek teacher approval.

Music Theory II-AP

​Students learn more advanced concepts in music theory as well as twentieth-century compositional techniques. Aural development will continue through sight-singing and rhythmic and melodic dictation. Music technology will be used as a resource to develop aural and compositional skills. It is recommended that students in this course take the AP Exam when it is offered in May.

Prerequisite: Music Theory I or its equivalent, or teacher permission

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I really take a music class in my freshman year of high school? Absolutely! In fact, most students find that joining the music program in their freshman year makes a huge difference for the rest of their high school years. Please see p. 94 of the HCPSS Course Catalog, that offers a sample schedule that shows how a student can be involved with music all 4 years: http://www.hcpss.org/f/academics/hs-catalog-2017-18.pdf​

​Can I take more than one music class at a time? For your freshman year, it might be difficult to schedule more than one music elective, but if you are very interested, speak with your counselor about scheduling options. As you progress through high school, your ability to take more music classes will increase.​

Can I do sports and be in a music ensemble? Yes! Most ensembles require after school rehearsals throughout the year, but conflicts between sports practices and games and music rehearsals and concerts can be worked out. We have had many students successfully participate in both sports and music.​

How do I get involved with Marching Band? Any student who is placed in Symphonic Band is a member of Marching Band. If you don’t play a marching instrument, you may get assigned another instrument for the marching season. If you are interested in Color Guard, contact Mr. Bacon for audition information.​

I play a wind/brass/percussion instrument. Can I be in orchestra? Only string players can register for the orchestra class. Wind, brass, and percussion students are selected to participate in Full Orchestra by Mr. O’Bryan. E-mail Mr. O’Bryan if you are interested.​

​What is lunch choir? Students who register for band or orchestra classes and cannot also fit Concert Choir into their schedule may sign up for lunch choir at the beginning of the year. Students in lunch choir sing with Concert Choir during their lunch shift and at all after school Concert Choir rehearsals and performances.​

How much time outside of class is required? All ensembles participate in all music program concerts and have mandatory dress rehearsals to prepare for those concerts. Depending on the ensemble you are in, you may also be required to attend after school rehearsals on a regular basis and may be required to perform at county adjudications.​

How many concerts does RHS present each year? The RHS Music Program typically presents 4 major concerts a year: Fall, Winter, and Spring Concerts, plus our Pops concert which usually takes place in January or February. The Winter and Spring Concerts are divided into two evenings because of the number of ensembles performing and amount of literature performed. Major ensembles also perform at county assessments, which typically take place in March.​

I’ve heard that the RHS Music Program takes a spring trip. Is this true? Yes. Every year we travel in March or April to compete in a national music festival. All performing groups are eligible to participate, although the spring trip is not required. Because the spring trip is extracurricular, eligibility to participate in the spring trip is determined by the quality of students’ participation in their performing ensemble in addition to the HCPSS academic eligibility policies.​